As a PSS employee, you are only a contractor, so there is no opportunity to move around within the pharma company you are working at. Lancaster Labs has been contracted by the pharma company to do one specific job and you are rarely, if ever, given the opportunity to learn new techniques/assays. You do not have the benefits or pay of the pharma company's employees. You are also limited to what departmental meetings you can attend and therefore it can be a challenge to learn much about the research you are doing. There is virtually no advancement opportunities so the only way to advance your career is to get a permanent position elsewhere. The pharma company may entertain lower bids from other contracting companies for your job, regardless of the fact that you are trained to do it. Because of this, Lancaster Labs is not motivated to give out promotions or raises (because it only makes you more expensive to the pharma company). Promotions can happen, but recently they are few and far between. Pay is good compared to other contracting positions (when taking into account benefits), but significantly lower compared to permanent pharma positions.
